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Date of Software Update of Sky+ Dual Recording
extended? |
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Posted on Tuesday 18th February by Callum
MacFarlane
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Cable & Satellite Europe (issue 225) reports
on developments with Sky+. "Next on the agenda is "the ability to record two
programmes on different channels simultaneously" by June 2003." according to
James Soames, senior manager for new product development and sales,
BSkyB.
Plusworld noted that the article quoted Mr Soames with his
statement, but had the date outside his quotation marks. Whatever that might
mean. Time will tell.
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Lies, Damn Lies, and Issues
of Differing [levels of] Severity |
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Posted on Tuesday 18th February by Callum
MacFarlane
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Also reported by Cable & Satellite Europe
(issue 225) was the views of James Soames, senior manager for new product
development and sales, BSkyB regarding. bugs and enhancements to Sky+
:
"A product of this nature will always have issues of differing [levels
of] severity. We had a few customer service issues with the start of programmes
being missed but we have since downloaded functionality enhancements. These
upgrades enable manual recording and control over buffer time, with an instant
rewind feature added in December. |
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Plusworld looks forward to the new super
up-front Sky+ advertising campaign:
"Never Miss A Thing with Sky+ subject to
Issues of Differing [levels of] Severity".
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Sky+ Subscribers on the Up |
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Posted on Friday 14th February by Callum
MacFarlane
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Sky Digital's latest company report shows that
Sky+ Subscribers have increased by 27,000 to 65,000 in the period July 1st 2002
- December 31st 2002. Only a small part of this period covers the reduced price
offer on Sky+ of £250.
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Full Sky Digital Interim Report Here (PDF Acrobat Reader
format)
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Advertising Sky+ News |
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Posted
on Wednesday 12th February by Callum MacFarlane |
Web site PVRUK is giving details on the parties involved in
future advertising work for Sky+. The article hints at a large Sky+ advertising
campaign. The source is Marketing Week. |
PVRUK - Push Coming for Sky+
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Amstrad unwilling to confirm rumour of new Sky+ box
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Wednesday 29th January by Callum MacFarlane |
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Despite rumours to the contrary,
Amstrad are denying that they have any plans to launch their own version of
Sky+. However it is believed that Amstrad have been looking into the
feasibility of producing their own Sky+ box. It is possible that there may be
some plans but the time is not right for a commercial
announcement
For full details please select the link
below:
PVR UK - Amstrad Denial
Digital Spy Forum - Possible additional Sky+
manufacturer
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New
Sky+ Box? |
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Tuesday
14th January by Callum MacFarlane |
Rumours persist that Sky are about to
unleash a new version of the Sky+ box in March/April with the same
functionality as the current system. The main difference allegedly being the
much smaller size of the new Sky+ unit. Conjecture on technical internet web
sites is that Pace have managed to reduce the size and cost of the box, so
making the whole sales operation more cost effective for Sky.
Whether this
will result in a substantially lower purchase price for Sky+ remains to be
seen.
Digital Spy Forum - New Sky+ Box
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Instant Rewind added in new software update |
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Monday
9th December by Callum MacFarlane |
The world of "Tivo-like" functionality
moved a step closer when Sky downloaded the latest software update on 9th
December 2002. (The update had been planned for "late summer").
The instant rewind
feature can be turned on by entering the Services Menu, choosing Sky+ SetUp,
then choosing the number of minutes buffer you wish to record.
Digital Spy Forum - Sky+ Has Updated
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Sky+
Price Cut |
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Monday
2nd December by Callum MacFarlane |
The confusing world of Sky+ pricing
has taken another turn with the price cut to £250 for a "limited time
only".
Although plusworld expects
the price to remain static at £250 after Christmas. Whether better
"loyalty offers" are still available is difficult to ascertain. Phone Sky+
08705 800 800 for details of their "best offer" for you.
Digital Spy Forum - Sky+ Price Drop
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New Sky+ Pricing Models exclusively for "top tier"
Sky subscribers |
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Posted on Wednesday 14th August at 22:00 BST by Callum
MacFarlane
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Digital Spy reports
an exciting development in a Sky+ promotion for "loyal, long-standing top-tier"
sky subscribers.
The report indicates a trial of a new promotion,
offering "top tier" Sky subscribers Sky+ for £200, a free relocation of a
digibox and reduced rate for a mirror 2nd subscription.
It is also
mentioned that current Sky+ subscribers may also be eligible for a mirror sub
discount.
No official announcement has yet been made from Sky, and
customers so far cannot request this offer.
For full details please
select the link below:
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Full Digital Spy report
here
Digital Spy Sky+ forum thread - "It's true. Sky+ down
in price..." |
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World’s
first twin decoder gateway range from Pace
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Posted on Wednesday
14th August at 13:15 BST by Callum MacFarlane
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From September 2002
European retailers will receive stock of the world’s first integrated twin
decoder and twin tuner satellite home gateway range with optional hard disk
technology. Pace’s ‘Puma’ gateway is designed to enable
households to watch two separate digital programmes on separate TV sets or
record one live programme whilst watching another.
It us unclear at
present whether this new functionality will be added to new Sky+ systems sold
in the future.
Pace Information
here |
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New Sky+ Add On
Storage Device Planned |
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Posted on Friday 9th
August at 23:15 BST by Callum MacFarlane
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Brian Sullivan,
Sky's Director of New Product Development and Sales, spoke at the Sky+ PR event
in London yesterday. He indicated that whilst no larger hard drive is planned
for Sky+ in the near future, there is likely to be made available an external
hard disk storage device. No further details of the device or price were made
available.
Mr Sullivan added "These devices are some way off, at least
next year, and they will be installed by Sky endorsed Engineers only. Mr
Sullivan agreed that this would partly satisfy customer’s need for more
storage space when dual recording comes to Sky+.
To date, Mr Sullivan
said that research had shown that Sky+ is used mostly as a time shifting device
and not so much as an archive of old programmes, but Sky were there to satisfy
all its customers needs, he added.
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Join in this
discussion at Digital Spy by clicking on the following
link:
Digital Spy forum - New Sky+ Add On Storage
Device Planned |
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++++++++++++++
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Record Two
Programmes Simultaneously whilst watching another SKY+ programme
previously recorded |
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Posted on Thursday
8th August at 17:25 BST by Callum MacFarlane
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The "killer feature"
of dual recording, is currently being worked on. So said Nick James, Head
of the Sky+ Development Team. Mr James said that the dual recording
implementation was actually straight forward, what was more time consuming was
the correct implementation of user menus and prompts so that no-one is
confused, and users know what they are doing when they need to watch live Sky+
TV or cancel a recording.
This important major upgrade is scheduled for
early 2003. However Brian Sullivan, Sky's Director of New Product
Development and Sales, said that if the upgrade was ready then it would be
great to get it rolled out for Christmas.
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++++++++++
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Instant Rewind
Coming Soon |
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Posted on Thursday
8th August at 17:00 BST by Callum MacFarlane
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Sky+ will constantly
record the channel you are tuned to - so if viewers come in half way through
Eastenders, they will be able to rewind and watch from the start without
missing the first bit. What's more, those watching live sport will be
able to take over from the broadcaster, selecting their own instant replays of
the live action to watch again, such as dubious referee decisions or fantastic
goals. This facility will be available late Summer.
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Sky+ Price - No
Changes |
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Posted on Thursday
8th August at 16:00 BST by Callum MacFarlane
updated 16:55
BST
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BSkyB today
announced that they would not be changing the retail price of Sky+ (at
£299) and they would not be changing the monthly subscription of
£10 per month for Sky+.
One crumb of comfort for potential and
current Sky+ users alike according to Brian Sullivan, Sky's Director of New
Product Development and Sales, was that the lifetime subscription option
was "a software option already enabled at Sky's Livingstone call centre, but
the market could not currently take any more confusion about PVR/PTRs and the
one pricing model worked for Sky & avoids delivering a complex message on
choice to consumers."
Mr Sullivan mentioned a possible total cost of
ownership at £600. Whether this was an example or a prediction, is
unclear, but that would make a lifetime subscription if it was introduced cost
£300.
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Join in the
discussion at Digital Spy regarding Sky+ Pricing by clicking the following
link:
Digital Spy forum -Sky+ Box Price
Drop |
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++++++++++++++
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28,000 Sky+
Subscribers |
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Posted on Wednesday
31st July at 10:15 BST by Callum MacFarlane
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+++++++++++++
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New software
update now available |
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Posted on Monday
29th July at 08:15 BST by Callum MacFarlane
updated 16:05 |
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The long awaited
Sky+ software update had been rolled out.
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* Users now
have the ability to record radio stations for the first time (via manual
timer)
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* Sky have
introduced a manual timer including Repeat function, to be used when Series
Links are not present.
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* The new
feature of being able to add differing amounts of padding cannot be
different for each recording, but is a global setting.
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* There is
now a Battery Low Indicator for your Sky+ Remote Control
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* Copy
function will now copy in the order that you chose the
recordings
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| (With Thanks to
DiGiTaL for the screenshots) |
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Check out the
following link for all the
detail:
Digital Spy forum - Sky+ Software HAS
Updated |
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++++++++++++++
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Major Software
Update – "Anticipated Soon"
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Posted on Sunday
28th July at 00:15 BST by Callum MacFarlane |
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Anticipation is
growing within the Sky+ community that the first Sky+ software update of 2002
is now imminent.
Many Sky+ users are pinning their hopes on an update
within the next 7 days.
With the BskyB annual report on Wednesday and a
Sky+ PR event in the 2nd week of August, all the pointers indicate an update is
due soon.
Information on the contents of the software update indicate
that the following features are likely to be included:
* Ability
to record radio stations for the first time
* A manual timer
including Repeat function, to be used when Series Links are not
present.
* The ability to add differing amounts of padding to
each recording should now mean an end to missing the climax of shows that
consistently over-run such as, Coronation Street.
There has been no
official announcement from Sky on the exact date of a Sky+ software
update.
Stay tuned to Plusworld.co.uk for all the latest news on this
major software update.
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+++++++++++++
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Channel 4 &
E4 Series Links – News Update |
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Posted on Wednesday
17th July at 08:45 BST by Callum MacFarlane |
The extent to which
Channel 4 and E4 have decided to use Series Links is now becoming
apparent.
From being in a position last week where C4 & E4 were the
last of the "big 4" to add series links – they are now leading the field
with a large number of series links. (see EPG screenshot
below)
Strangely, some popular shows which Ch4 have been asked
specifically to introduce Series Link for have not yet been added. For example,
the daily quiz show Countdown, on at 4.15pm Mon-Fri, which would seem a prime
candidate for a Series Link hasn’t got one.
Plusworld will attempt
to find out why most major shows are Series Linked but some are
not. |
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Check out the following
link for all the detail:
Digital Spy forum - C4 & E4 -
Series Links have arrived!!!!!
++++++++++++++++
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Plusworld teams
up with Digital Spy
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Posted on Tuesday
16th July at 23:40 BST by Ken Clark |
Today saw an exciting day
in the short life of plusworld.co.uk. We've teamed up with Digital Spy, the
webs leading digital forums, so as to give our users the best possible arena
for discussing all things Sky+.
Chief Editor of plusworld.co.uk, Callum
Macfarlane said, "This is a major development for plusworld, we wanted to
ensure that the Sky+ Users Community had the best possible outlet for it's
users concerns, questions and general community chat, and we’ve achieved
that with Digital Spy."
After talks with the staff at Digital Spy, Sky+
was given it’s own sub-forum inside the PVR main forum. A link to
‘plusworld.co.uk - a sky+ users community’ has been included in
the description to this forum in case you could ever forget! Simply click on
the link below to start contributing to the webs best digital forums.
Enjoy.
Digital Spy Sky+
Forum
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Sky+ Future -
Provisional Plans Revealed |
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Posted on Monday
15th July at 13:40 BST by Callum MacFarlane
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Web site Digital Spy today
revealed the provisional plans for future upgrades of Sky+.
The article
mentions dates when events are likely to happen, and the features that are
likely to appear.
Many of the new facilities are features that users
have been asking for, for some time. Radio Recording, Manual Timer and
True Dual Recording are the highlights of this latest news.
Digital Spy - Sky+ News
Item
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Channel 4 and E4
Launch Series Links |
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Posted on Sunday
14th July at 22:35 BST by Callum MacFarlane
updated 23:08 |
It has been reported in the
Digital Spy PVR forum (thanks to Murray Park) that Channel 4 and E4 have
introduced series links to some of their shows
I have checked this 10
minutes ago, and there are indeed series links available.
Plusworld.co.uk found this
was a surprising addition, as only last week when we contacted C4 on behalf of
our users, they told us that they had no plans to incorporate Series Links at
present. (see letters area).
Check out the following
link for all the detail:
Digital Spy forum - C4 & E4 -
Series Links have arrived!!!!!
+++++++++++++++
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Sky+ Users Find A
Voice On The Web
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Posted on Sunday
14th July at 13:30 BST by Callum MacFarlane |
Plusworld.co.uk: Official
Press Release - 14th July 2002
Sky+ Users Find A Voice On The
Web
Users of the satellite personal television recorder system Sky+ have
had little opportunity over the past 12 months since the product's launch to
comment about the level of service they receive. Until now the only available
outlet has been through various forums and newsgroups which don’t act on
users views constructively, if at all. Plusworld.co.uk is about to change all
that with a new web site that has brought together expert and novice users to
get the best out the Sky+ system.
Whilst Sky+ is a "cutting edge"
product, it's had it's fair share of teething problems. One of
Plusworld.co.uk’s aims is to highlight these issues and to give users a
definitive reference as to what to expect with their system. Many have
complained that if they’d known they were experiencing a known problem
they would not have wasted time trying to source a resolution.
Callum
MacFarlane, Chief Editor of plusworld.co.uk said, “Sky+ users don't
understand that when something goes wrong, why it went wrong and what they can
do about it”. “This product is called a ‘Personal Television
Recorder’, and owners do take it as a Personal matter when one
programme cuts the end off another, or when a planned recording, using the Sky
patented ‘Series Link’, fails to record.”
Plusworld.co.uk
is campaigning for a better service. “Using Sky+ is far superior
than any VCR available, the system just needs refining and BSkyB need to start
listening to their customers." added Mr MacFarlane.
Link to
http://www.plusworld.co.uk/
Note for
Editors
==========
The above press release is in reference to
BskyB’s Sky+ product. Here are a few reference details for this product in
case of unfamiliarity...
Sky+ is an evolution of Sky’s Digibox,
their set-top-box for receiving broadcasting via satellite and is only
currently manufactured by Pace unlike the Digibox. It utilises an on board hard
disk and two tuners to record streams without loss of quality on playback.
Since the launch of Sky+ last year, they have shipped and installed over 25,000
units. Sky charge a monthly subscription of £10 on top of customers
package price to be able to access the extra features that Sky+ gives. Sky+
currently costs £300 to purchase the hardware, which the customer owns
outright, plus installation.
Brief Feature list...
Ability to
record one satellite channel whilst watching another.
Ability to watch a
recording whilst recording another programme.
Ability to live pause the
channel you are watching.
All these features are fully integrated within
Sky's Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
If you require any more
information please do not hesitate to contact me on the following email
address
callum@plusworld.co.uk
Callum MacFarlane
Chief
Editor
============== PRESS RELEASE ENDS ==============
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Pace / Sky deal
has implications for Sky+ users? |
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Posted on
Tuesday 2nd July 2002 at 19:34 BST by Ken Clark |
Today Pace Micro Technology
PLC, the producers of the Sky+ hardware,
announced that they had concluded
discussions with Sky yesterday over supply agreements for Sky+.
Sky made
further commitments to purchase hardware, and also made significant revisions
to the contractual terms under which Pace supplies the Sky+ system, this
contract runs until the end of 2004.
Pace confirmed that there had been
changes to Sky+ product pricing, but Sky
themselves have not confirmed any
details as to what they are. This change
will result in a drop for
Pace¹s immediate pre tax profits, and there will
be further loses as
they have also agreed to produce the hardware at a loss
for the next nine
months. Pace has been pushed into this deal with Sky due
to its poor
financial year, largely down to the slow take-up of digital
cable for which
it also supplies hardware.
It's not all bad news for Pace though. They
confirmed that they will receive
in addition a monthly payment from Sky in
respect of each Sky+ monthly
subscription paid by Sky's customers, currently
£10 per month. They did not
confirm what percentage they would receive
of this amount but went on to say that from April 2003 trading terms would
revert back to normal.
Sky are yet to release an official press release
on this matter.
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What do you think
about this news? Does it mean that we'll never get rid of the £10
subscription? Will Sky+ set top boxes become cheaper?Click the following
Digital Spy link to express your views in the relevant thread.
Digital Spy forum - Pace / Sky Deal
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